Description
Midwest comfort meets pure indulgence with this irresistible cheesy tater tot casserole that combines hearty ground beef, creamy cheese sauce, and crispy potato tots. Comforting layers of flavor promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 grams) ground beef
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 1/2 cups (170 grams) sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 (10 ounces / 284 grams) can cream of chicken soup
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1/2 pound (227 grams) frozen tater tots
- 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a 9×9-inch casserole dish for a hearty meal.
- In a skillet, thoroughly cook ground beef with diced onions until meat is completely browned and onions turn translucent. Carefully drain any excess grease.
- Distribute the beef and onion mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared casserole dish, creating a uniform base layer.
- Generously sprinkle half the seasoned salt over the meat, then blanket the entire surface with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Carefully spread cream of chicken soup across the cheese layer, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Arrange frozen tater tots in a precise, overlapping pattern across the top of the casserole, creating a crispy potato topping. Dust the remaining seasoned salt over the tater tots.
- Securely cover the casserole with aluminum foil, then bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and ingredients to heat thoroughly.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes, watching for golden-brown and crispy tater tots that signal perfect doneness.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately while hot, offering a comforting and satisfying family-style dish.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter protein option that reduces saturated fat and calories.
- Try different cheese varieties like pepper jack or monterey jack to add unexpected flavor complexity and personalize the dish.
- Create a gluten-free version by ensuring cream of chicken soup is gluten-free and using certified gluten-free tater tots for sensitive diets.
- Add extra vegetables like diced bell peppers or spinach to the beef mixture for increased nutrition and a subtle color boost without changing the core recipe.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg